NFL2K

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Our seven new videos of NFL2K will make you know what we've known all along: Sega Sports is BACK!

By IGN Staff

Being as our editor in chief, Brandon F. Justice has left the country in order to cover the upcoming ECTS (darn the bastard - I ought to have been given the priviledge), I was left with the strange task of creating and posting a bunch of new movies of Sega Sports' NFL2K. This posed quite the problem, as I've never played a single sports game in my life, and I don't intend to (although, the NFL2K/NBA2K duo may change things). Anyhow, in order to make my life easier, I decided to enlist the help of a real pro of the virtual football league, Aaron Scarin' Boulding of IGN64. In the videos below, you're seeing Aaron's masterful DC controller-work.

These movies should hopefully hold you over until our review of the game next week. I have a feeling they'll do much more than that, actually. If you find yourself reaching for your camping gear, all set to spend the next few nights outside your favorite software store in wait for the release of the game (and the system), don't worry too much, as I'm certain you're not alone!

OK folks, after months of torture, I finally managed to weasel a playable version of NFL2K outta those crazy kids at Brandon Justice, IGNDC

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History has a funny was of repeating itself sometimes. Back before Square and CG, a little football title by then-fledgling EA Sports ushered in the 16-bit era with a title that would revolutionize the way gamers thought of sports gaming. John Madden Football would, despite a few down years, continue to set the standard for pigskin excellence well into the 32 and 64-bit eras, and with the arrival of the Dreamcast, Visual Concepts looks to follow EA's Genesis lead with a football title that is sure to score the mother of all touchdowns.

NFL 2000 was first unleashed on the public at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, and it was clear that this game is going to be something unique. The most common quote overheard in Sega's booth (and perhaps the show floor) was " class='autolink' href='http://games.ign.com/objects/026/026234.html'>Visual Concepts, and after a few seasons of full-contact bliss, I've got a few additional impression before we lay the official smack-down on you with our review in a couple weeks.

I've currently been hard at work taking the Vikings through the motions of what is sure to be a record setting season, and though I haven't figured everything out just yet, I have stumbled upon several cool little tid-bits I thought you guys might be interested in.

First off, the game's presentation features some killer additions, most notably the awesome create-a-player mode, which allows for an awesome number of customizations. Basically, anything you can imagine in terms of detail can be added to your player, and it's pretty cool to watch it all happen in real-time.

The same goes for the play editor, although it doesn't allow for free-drawn receiver routes. You can customize each position and role, and thanks to the smooth layout, check out each player's plan of action in relationship to the field.

There's also several modes to check out, including a cool tutorial which gives you play-by-play pointers that help you fine-tune your game. It covers everything from play calling to on the field action, and should help new players hop in to the genre with ease.

The thing is, even the most seasoned player will probably need to give this mode a spin. One thing we can tell you about NFL2K already is that this game is not for the lazy. The learning curve is extremely steep, but the game has been incredibly rewarding thus far. Not only does the game require you to think like a real coach in your play calling, but you'll really have to take control of your players to make the big plays. The control system itself is one of the most demanding we've seen to date in terms of the level of detail, and it will really give your thumb a workout. This is especially true of the passing game, which follows the lead of previous gridiron greats with an ability to lead the pass in any given direction, a feature that is accentuated by the Dreamcast's excellent analog controller.

Argh. There's just so much to talk about! I'd spill it all here, but I'm not going to get in too much detail, as we'll save that action for the review. Let me say this much: The blitz is coming, football fans, and Sega Sports is ready to put a punishing hit on the competition. We'll be back with our review in the coming weeks, but if you're a football fan, you don't need to wait for the formalities..just go pre-order this puppy now!

Oh, and BTW...Barry is in the game, just so you know.

-- NFL2K is heads and shoulders above the crowd, and upon closer inspection, looks to be on its way to gameplay that will live up to its on-field appearance.

Surpassing even that of it's impressive NBA counterpart, NFL 2000 is quite simply the most visually realistic football title to ever grace a console. This game looks so slick that, more often than not, you'll catch yourself doing a double-take in an attempt to convince yourself that this is actually a game. Realistic player models based on over 16 real NFL players that sport a whopping 1,400 distinct animations have enabled VC to put together an amazing overall effect. From the distinct shuffles and behaviors of the defensive line to the way players head back to the huddle, things look just as they would from the side-lines. They even motion captured the ref, for cryin' out loud!

But what's all this motion without a little realism? NFL 2000 sports a detailed 3-D collision system that ensures every action on the field is a direct result of what you're seeing. I'm sure you've heard this before, but from our recent play test, I can tell you that it is quite a joy to experience. Take weather conditions, for example. The features completely customizable weather conditions, so like any moron, I figure, "Cool! Snow is always fun." Well, yes and no. you see, in NFL2K, the weather plays a much more accurate role both in terms of gameplay and visuals. Not only will it be tougher for linemen to hold their ground, but when a receiver runs his route and gets underthrown, you will actually see him slip as he tries to come to a sudden stop to make the catch.

Even more awe-inspiring was watching the game's collision detection in action. I actually had a humorous run in with just how accurate it was. Taking my lumps against the title's producer, he actually managed to field a pass right off my linebacker's considerable backside. We must have watched the replay 20 times, which showed time and time again the obnoxious level of detail as the receiver reacted on the fly and fielded the pass. This also led to one of my favorite moments in head-to-head history, as my competitor was thus labeled the master of "ass-passing." An enviable title for any sports fan, eh?

On thing I wasn't jealous of, however, was how the physics model came into play when his QB was on the wrong end of a John Randle sack. Physics also comes into play with the game's bone-crunching tackles, as players will react physically as direction would dictate, as opposed to less advanced titles that would use the a limited set of motions and slap the best fit. In NFL2K, the number of animations allows for an incredible number of falls and tackles, and it really leaves a mark on your senses.

But more importantly, the gang at VC plans to leave a mark on your noggin.' The level of realism will allow for incredibly accurate injuries, and we're told you can expect to a ton of ailments, with everything from broken limbs to pulled groins. The cool thing is, you'll have the option in season mode to play or bench injured players, and their statistics will actually fluctuate depending on their current status, and if you play a guy that's questionable, he is more likely to aggravate his injury.

But enough about the gameplay. How will all this in-game action feel? Well, if our play-test was any indication, you can expect a top-notch effort on both sides of the ball. Seeking to emulate the likes of Madden and QBC, the game feels quite natural, and will, like it's roundball cousin, take advantage of the game's analog setup to provide responsive, visually accurate control.

The game will also feature some cool uses of Sega's VMU peripheral, as you'll actually be able to select plays via the unit, as opposed to onscreen, so that weasels who "just happened to know which side you were running towards" will be left out in the cold when it comes to getting a hint about your calls.

But, let's say your opponent is smart enough to tie your favorite plays to a formation. VC has even included a nice out for such tight spots, as NFL2K will sport a play editor that will let you create and save individualized plays during the game. Nothing like the 'ole switcheroo to fool a cheating defense.

The game will also feature all the extras, such as a total of 70 teams (31 NFL teams, 31 classic teams, five alumni teams and three all-pro teams), custom teams, a fantasy draft mode, full game and season stats, 32 real-life stadiums and a wide variety of "signature moves."

Even with all these features, it remains to be seen if NFL2K can gain yardage in an already-crowded arena. One thing is for sure, however, and that is that NFL 200 continues to impress with every sitting. A mere 60% complete, the game still has a lot of room to improve and if it continues on this path, we could be looking at the second coming of the console football revolution. We'll be sure to keep up to date on its progress, and you can expect more in-depth coverage some time next month.